My bikes and I!

I've been resting my body for about a week now. No bike riding per doctors orders. Strep throat took me off my bike! Not a pulled muscle or broken bone but something that seemed so simple! Oh well, I hope to ride my bike to work the rest of this week while we still have spring like condtions!

Since I haven't been biking I've been thinking about all my bikes! So where do you draw the line as far as having too many bikes? For me I think it's coming down to my living space! I still feel the need for a different bike for every situation! Same thinking as the right tool for the right job! One day I might have a Jay Leno garage full of bikes and maybe cars too! I'd better stop dreaming now. For the time being I'm living in a studio surrounded by bikes and bike stuff! To create some kind of order from the chaos I have a Feedback Sports Velo Cache Bicycle Storage Stand http://www.feedbacksports.com/products/velo_cache_storage_stand_accessories.aspx

The next logical question you might have is how many bikes do I have! Here's the list...
1. 1996 Specialized Stumpjumper MTB (aka: Special ed! The letters "iz" started to coming off so I helped it). This bike sadly will be retired due to worn aluminum rear drop-outs.
2. Intense Tracer MTB
3. Surly Instigator MTB

Surly Instigator

4. Specialized Festina Road Bike
5. Mongoose Ritual (24" BMX)
6. Surly Long Haul Trucker Road Bike (build in progress. Hoping to finish but ran into many issues with this used bike frame)

If I ever have to narrow down my bike corral then I'll probably choose a hardtail mountain bike over a road bike. In my opinion you are kind of limited in the kind of riding you can do with a road bike. All you roadies... please prove me wrong! A CycleCross bike might be the exception like the Surly CrossCheck http://www.surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check_complete/ or Kona Jake The Snake http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=jake_the_snake.
Cycle Cross is not really a road bike, but it's not a mountain bike either. It's somewhere in the middle. Maybe this video will help describe it better than me.

Then again I'm partial to mountain bikes because that's what got me back into bicycle riding back in 1996! Ever since childhood I have always like getting some air. Not huge air like X-Games; but definitely getting both tires off the ground.

Some things that might be hard to do on a road bike...

NorthStar up and over

NorthStar teeter-toter

That was a fun day at NorthStart. But I crashed early on in the day attempting huge air off a jump. Nothing special, just got a little too comfortable with jumping. Then continued to ride and also did those obstacles at the end of day with a hurting wrist. I didn't realize how serious it was!

This is the next day...

Fractured Wrist @ NorthStar 2008

Yeah, I had some wrist pain. But my fingers could still move and I could still grip the bars okay. I went back to NorthStar the following summer but rode my Intense Tracer (full suspension bike). Here's a video of one of the jumps or more like a roll off drop.

That's if for now... Keep the rubber side down!

Car Free Happy Hour!

Today is Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition's Car Free Happy Hour at Trials Pub in San Jose. I hope I'm feeling well enough to check it out. http://bikesiliconvalley.org/content/1743

Looks the us West Coast'ers get to enjoy some sunshine this weekend. I feel sorry for all tho folks in the Mid-West and back East that are getting slammed with storms.

I ran into more issues on Sunday with my Surly Long Haul Trucker Bike. I need new brake levers now! The saga continues with this bike. I hope that's the last road block to get the bike in working condition. If not I might just scrap the bike and move on.

There's another bike I've been checking out... It's called a Torker KB2! http://www.torkerusa.com/bikes/commuter-life/2011-kb2- It looks like a fixie bike but has an internal 2-speed hub and a coaster brake! To switch gears you "kick back" on the cranks like you are apply the coaster brake. There's a sticker of a Karate guy doing a kick on the bike. So no cables gives it a clean look. The idea of a coaster brake reminds me of my childhood when I used to try to skid for days. Here's picture of the bike.

Torker KB2 "kick-back"

That's it for now... enjoy the sunshine and keep those wheels turning.

Biking at Saratoga Gap

On Saturday I finally got to ride Long Ridge Trail starting at Saratoga Gap.

Mountain Lion info at start of Long Ridge Trail

One day all the trails will connect!

 The singletrak on Long Ridge Trail and Peters Trail was still open.

 This other guy showed up right after I propped my bike up behind the rock bench. He noticed I had my camera out and was nice enough to take my picture. He started his ride on Steven's Canyon Trail and rode up Grizzly Flats. He didn't mind me tagging along for a short distance. We took off down the singletrack on Long Ridge. Then he took the fork to the left back to Grizzly Flats. I took the fork to the right towards Peters Trail.

Surly Instigator at the pond

Ducks in the Pond by start or end of Peters Trail

trail leading to Peters Trail with switchbacks

My first flat tire ever was right here back in 1996!

All in all it was a fun ride. It was really windy in parts. All the condensation from the overcast clouds were dropping from the trees. It seemed like it was raining. But most of trail wasn't that wet. I still had to wash my bike when I got home.

Dirt riding riding is done for now. On Monday it's back to riding pavement for the commute to work. If it's raining I might be a wimp and drive instead. On a side note, my used Surly Long Haul Trucker bike should be road worthy next week. It's getting all fixed up with some help from a friend.

MTB trails open-Let's Ride!

A lot of MTB trails here in the south bay are now open as of 1/26/11! It's been sunny here for over a week now so the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has open some trails I like to ride. Here's a link to the trail conditions. http://www.openspace.org/preserves/trail_conditions.asp

I might have to go riding starting at Saratoga Gap since both Peters Creek Trail and Long Ridge Trail are now open. Here's a picture from a previous ride...

Intense Tracer at Sunset

Long Ridge/Peters Trail Sign

Fremont Older's Toyon Trail is also open! I used to enjoying riding the 007 trail that hugs the mountain side with some views of they bay area. I used to ride there after work when I lived in Sunnyvale.

Happy trails to all.

Orange SJ Bike Party ride over, now I'm Blue

SJ Bike Party (http://www.sjbikeparty.org/) happened on Friday, Jan. 21. The theme was "Orange". Simple, bright with plenty of options to create a theme within a theme! My camera was having issues and I didn't have time to get into the theme. I did find one orange piece of bike reflective gear though. Walt's Cycle (http://www.waltscycle.com/) gave away these orange reflective pants cuff on a bike party last year

Walt's Cycle have helped me and a few other friends on previous bike party rides. So I'm always happy to mention their community involvement. The put a pedal back on and fixed a broken chain. This time I rode my '96 Specialized Stumpjumper that's nicknamed Special Ed. The "iz" is missing on one side of the top tube. (The pictures above with the orange pants cuff are from a different bike).

I started on the pre-ride from San Jose City Hall in Downtown SJ. I ran into a guy named Jim who was all "oranged" out. Head to toe including his bike! He wrapped his bike in orange streamer. We got to the starting point with plenty of time to check all the orange!

The ride felt short but lots of fun. I ended up taking a different routed home. The pavement on Monterey Rd./Hwy is really all beat up. I took a bike trail and side streets the follow Hwy 87 into downtown SJ.

Now I can't wait for the next bike party!

Downtown San Jose to Alum Rock Park

I always have enjoyed starting my mountain bike rides from home. It makes it more of an adventure adding some urban riding to the mix. Sometimes you find little curbs to jump off of. This is the part where some people say... Grow up! But I say no way! This is how I attempt to retain my youth. When I was a kid I used to go over most bumps or curbs and try to jump. Some times things never change.

After summer was over last year I figured out that I could ride my bike to Alum Rock park after work. Unfortunately there was not enough sunlight to make it happen. You only have 30 minutes after Sunset to get out of park in these neck of the woods!

A few weeks ago we had some nice sunshine on a Saturday so it was time to hit some dirt! I decided to ride my bike to Alum Rock Park from Downtown San Jose. It's 8.6 miles according to Google maps. http://maps.google.com/maps

I just had one issue to fix. Multiple thorns in my tires from a previous bike ride. These thorns I call "goat heads". I'm not sure if that's the real name or a nick name.

Goat heads are the worst!

The picture only show three out of the eight thorns I removed. That was just one of the tires! I've never gotten so many goat heads in one ride! Anyways... I kinda started the process of getting my bike ready too late. When I did start my ride it was already at sunset. I decided to do the ride to Alum Rock Park even though I wouldn't be able to do any Mountain biking in the park.

I pass this park entrance on my way to work. It's getting an upgrade but will take longer now; according to the sign. The sign says the soil is contaminated. I know they had a huge dog park here before but jeez, how many dogs does it take to contaminate the soil?

Watson Park

After turning the corner onto Mabury Road I take the "huge" pedestrian/bike lane over 101. It looks like it was the old bridge for cars. Still has the lane line down the middle! The bad part is it's only on one side of the street so you have to cross over traffic on the way back to get to the entrance. I'd feel safer having bike lanes that go over the overpass on both sides of the street. Previous years the AMGEN Tour of California www.amgentourofcalifornia.com has gone down Mabury St.. But I don't think they had to cross over triffic to take the bike specific bridge! This 2011 year the tour is coming to San Jose on Wednesday, May 18th.

Mabury/101 overpass

The best part of the ride was riding Penitencia Creek Trail. I finally found some dirt to bike on. The creek trail ends and begins at street crossings. In order to continue you have to cross at stop lights. Eventually I got close to Alum Rock Park and deciding to take it to the streets. One obstacle though; I had to cross the creek to get to the road. I didn't really want to back track to find the bridge or road crossing. The creek looked doable so I attempted to keep my shoes dry! They both got a little wet but not drenched. I made it to the park entrance and keep going! I got about two miles into the park and decided to turn around. The Park ranger was driving out on the main road and I'm sure he saw me with my bike lights turned on. I don't need a talk with an park ranger or a ticket - So peace out!

Biking home I took a little brake on Mabury Ped/Bike overpass and ate a snack. I was close to home but out of gas! The ride turned out to be lots of fun. Now I know what I'm in for when I do the ride again.

A few days ago I check my tires on the Surly Instigator and found a flat front tire. I'm wondering if I missed a thorn! I don't hate many things in this world but Goat Heads are definitely on the hate list!

1/5/11 - Commute by bike

Here's what I've been riding to work recently.

I'm pretty new to riding Road bikes. I got the Specialized Festina from a friend for a good price. I've been riding it off and on to work for 2-3 years now. Previously I would commute to work from Sunnyvale. That was 13 miles one way. I would ride Light Rail on the way home since it always took an extra half hour riding my bike home. A head wind would always start in the afternoon coming off the bay. So a 50 minute commute now took roughly 1 hour 20 minutes! Last summer in May I moved. I'm living much closer to work; so my commute from Downtown San Jose to work is only 3 miles!

I like to ride a bike to work for many reasons. Saves money since I'm not using gas. I get to see cool things on my way to work. I burn calories so I can justify the food and drinks I consume. But the main reason I ride a bike to work is I don't have time to ride my bike after work. My work hours changed so the only time I can ride after work is in the summer time when there's more sunlight. I was never a huge fan of pavement riding but I'm starting to enjoy it. Singletrack or Mountain Biking will always be #1 in my heart though.

I'm building up a commuter bike so I don't have to carry the load in my Timbuk2 Messenger bag (timbuk2.classic-messenger). So my commuter bike is a Surly Long Haul Trucker (surlybikes.com/long_haul_trucker). I got the frame for free from a friend. It came with the Surly Nice Rack for the front. I'm a huge fan of Surly bikes. One of my favorite Hardtail MTB bikes is my Surly Instigator. The Surly Long Haul Trucker has been a work in progress. I finally have all the parts I need to finish the build. Now that the holidays are over I might have time to get all the pieces put together.

Today I'll be driving to work since I have to run errands after work. Once I get the Surly LHT built I plan on doing some of my errands by bike!